Method and apparatus for setting well casing



y 967 J. c. HOLDEN ETAL 3,318,382

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SETTING WELL CASING Filed Aug. 21, 1964 I5 Sheets-Sheet l BY M I DWI ATTORNEYS y 1967 J. c. HOLDEN ETAL 3,318,382

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SETTING WELL CASING Filed Aug. 21, 1964 5 heets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS sc/fLEY J. aura/Iv,

Eon x720 5. C'OOAf, JOHN c. HomQV,

6E1? IV/X) ATTORNEYS May 9, 1967 J. c. HOLDEN ETAL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SETTING WELL CASING 3 Sheets-Sheet 55 Filed Aug. 21, 1964 INVENTORE 50445) J- Baa/A4 Jal/N C. H0405,

BY 3 pa -M ATTORN E Y5 United States l atent ()flic 3,318,382. Patented May 9, 1967 3,318,382 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SETTING WELL CASING John C. Holden and Edward B. Cook, Duncan, Okla, and Schley J. Babin, New Orleans, and George J. Nix, Morgan City, La., assignors to Halliburton Company, Duncan, Okla, a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 21, 1964, Ser. No. 397,357 19 Claims. (Cl. 16646) This invention relates to the setting of casing in an oil or gas well and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for rapidly establishing circulation after casing is landed in a well.

. It is conventional practice to drill a well to a desired depth and set casing in the well by running a casing string to the depth in the well at which the casing is to be set, and then cementing the casing in place. Briefly, the steps in cementing a well include establishing circulation after the casing has reached the desired depth by pumping mud or well fluid down the casing string and up through the annulus between the casing and the well bore. The drilling mud flows out of the top of the surface casing and may be recirculated throught the casing. A plug container is connected to the top of the casing string. There are two or more plugs in the plug container, and when it is desired to cement the casing in the well, the bottom plug is released and cement slurry is pumped behind the bottom plug, driving it down the casing, where it is landed on a float collar. A top plug is released from the plug container and drilling fluid is pumped behind the top plug to force the cement through the bottom plug and out through the bottom of the casing and up through the annulus between the casing and the well bore. If the annulus is blocked by debris or cave-ins, the cement cannot be pumped upwardly around the outside of the casing and the cement hardens inside the casing. It is then necessary to perforate the pipe above the cement and above the obstruction and direct cement through the perforations to the outside of the casing. This operation is very expensive and does not always produce a satisfactory cementing job.

While the casing string is being run in the well, the exposed bore hole walls may slough off or cave in. If the walls of the bore hole cave in after the lower end of the casing has descended past the point at which the sloughing occurs, the debris may become wedged against the casing to form a bridge and communication through the annulus may be completely blocked. In order to partially overcome this problem, it is customary practice to lower the casing string as quickly as possible. The casing string is made up while it is being lowered in the well and it is necessary to hold the casing stationary while the next section of the casing is connected to the top of the casing string. Lowering of the casing string continues until the top of the casing string again approaches the level of the rig floor. The next section of casing is assembled in the casing string and the casing is again lowered. The process, therefore, is carried out in a series of steps, rather than in a continuous movement.

While the casing is being run in the well, a tally is kept of the length of the casing, so that it is known when the desired depth of setting the casing is reached. When the last section of pipe has been connected in the casing string and the casing string has been lowered to the desired depth, the plug container is assembled on the top of the casing string. Since the casing pipe is in even lengths, the plug container may be as high as thirty feet or more above the rig floor. The rotary hose must then be connected to the plug container before fluid can be pumped down the casing and to establish circulation. It

is important that the plug container be mounted on the top of the casing string and the rotary hose connection be made quickly, so that circulation can be started as soon as possible after the desired depth.

Since the sections or joints of pipe forming the casing are relatively long, the top of the casing is usually ten to thirty feet above the rig floor when the casing has reached the desired depth. Therefore, it is necessary for workmen to climb up to the top of the casing string, after the plug container is connected, and to align and make up a course threaded joint for connecting the rotary hose to the plug container. It is extremely important that the time required for making this connection be as short as possible, since while the connection is being made, there is no circulation through the casing and there may be suflicient cave-ins to accumulate a large blockage between the well bore and the casing. Because of the height of the rotary hose connection above the rig floor, however, it is an awkward connection to work on and it cannot be completed quickly.

Accordingly, in view of time required by prior art methods and apparatus for establishing circulation after the casing has reached the desired depth, it is an object of this invention to provide rapid and efficient method and apparatus for establishing circulation immediately after the casing has reached setting depth.

It is a further object of this invention to provide improved method and apparatus for connecting a rotary hose to a plug container with a minimum of effort.

It is another object of this invention to provide a secure, tight connection between a rotary hose and a plug container.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide method and apparatus for connecting together the plug container and a rotary hose from a remote location.

These objects are accomplished in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention by a connector having interfitting coupling members which are temporarily fastened together when one of the coupling members is moved into telescoping relation with the other coupling member. One of the coupling members is positioned upright on a hoist line and the other coupling member is positioned upright on and connected to the inlet pipe of the plug container. Upon raising the hoist line, the coupling member mounted on the hoist is raised until it is interfitted with the stationary coupling member and latched securely together. In accordance with this invention, the workmen may form the connection between the rotary hose and the inlet pipe to the plug container while remaining on the rig floor. Merely by raising the hoist line, the coupling members are latched together and the time required for making up the connection is reduced to a minimum.

This preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partially in section and partially schematic of a drilling rig, including the rotary hose connector of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of one of the coupling members;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of the other coupling member;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the connector of this invention with the coupling members latched together;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the connector along the line 55 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the connector along the line 66 in FIG. 8 showing springs and latch dogs;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the connector showing the lift bar and safety lock; and

FIG..8 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the springs and latch dogs along the line 88 in FIG.'2.

Referring to FIG.. 1, a conventional drilling rig 2 has a rig floor 4 and a conventional travelling block 6 suspended from the top of the derrick for lowering drill pipe and casing into abore hole 8. Below the rig fioor 4, a surface casing 10 has been set in the wellbore 8 in a conventional manner. A conventional blow out preventer 12 is provided at the top of the surface casing 10 and a discharge line 14, which is connected with the surface casing 10 conducts drilling fluid to a pond or ditch adjacent the drilling rig. The surface casing 10 extends downwardly only a portion of the depth of the bore hole 8 and a production casing string 16 is lowered through the surfacecasing 10 and the open hole 8 below the surface casing by the travelling block 6.. The casing string 16 is made up of a plurality of sections of pipe which are of the order of '20 to 40 feet long. The sections of pipe are secured together by collars which are threaded on the ends of the casing pipe 16. As the casing string 16 .is lowered down the bore hole 8, the travelling block 6,

which supports the casing string 16, is lowered until the 1 top of the string is a few feet above the floor of the drilling rig 4. The casing string is then clamped and the block is unhooked from the casing string and raised to lift another section of. pipe in position above the casing string. The lower end of the new pipe section is coupled to the top of the casing stringby a conventional collar. The clamps are then released and the casing string is lowered again until the bottom of the casing string reaches the desired depth. If the casing string is too short, additional sections of pipe are added in the same manner until the casing string has reached the desired depth or the bottom of the hole 8.

After the casing 16 is landed on the bottom of the bore hole 8, or if the casing is to be set off'bottom, it has reached the desired depth, a cementing plug container 18 I is assembled on the upper end of the casing string 16. The plug container has inlet pipes 20 and 22 on its opposite sides and a pipe or hose 24 conducts cement slurry from conventional well'cementing equipment to the plug container 18. A valve 26 in the inlet pipe 20 controls the flow of cement slurry from the pipe 24 into the plug container 18. On the opposite side of the plug container 18, a conventional rotary hose 28 extends up the side of the derrick and is connected to the inlet pipe 22 by the connector 30 of this invention; A valve 32 in the inlet pipe 22 controls the flow of drilling mud or fluid from the hose 28 into the plug container 18. An auxiliary cable 34 is suspended from a pulley at the top of the derrick and a crossbar 36 is attached to the lower end of the cable 34 for supporting one of the coupling members of the connector 30. The cable 34-may be raised and lowered from the floor 4 of the rig 2 in a conventional manner.

The connector 30 includes a receiver member 38, as Shown in FIG. 2, and a probe member 40, as shown in FIG. 3. The receiver member 38 has a hollow tubular body 42 and the interior of the body 42 has an intermediate bore 44 and alarge diameter bore 46 forming a shoulder .48 therebetween. One end. of the body 42 is provided with threads 50 for securing the body 42 to the inlet pipe'22 of the plug container 18. The opposite end of the body 42 has an internal chamfer 52 .and an external chamfer 54. A cylindrical shell 56 extends coaxially over the exterior of the body 42 and one end of the shell issecured to the body 42 by threads 58. The opposite end of the shell 56 has an'outwardly flaring guide 60 which is secured to the shell 56 by welding or other suitable means.

There area plurality of radial slots 62 spaced circumferentially around the body 42 and each slot 62 has a dog64 mounted therein for sliding movement radially of the body 42. Outward movement of the dog 64 is limited by the shell 56 and the dogs 64 are urged outwardly by wire springs 66. The springs, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8 are in the form of a loop and have outwardly turned opposite ends 70 which are mounted in transverse bores 72 in the dogs 64. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, there are six dogs 64 spaced around the body 42 and each dog 64 is urged outwardly toward the shell 56 by the end portions '70 of the two adjacent springs 66. The outer surface of the body 42 is relieved, as shown in FIG. 2, to allow the end portions 70 of the springs 66 to be displaced radially inward, but inward motion of the dogs 64 twists each half of the springs in the opposite direction and imposes an outward radial force on the dogs 64.

The ends 70 of each spring 66 are displaced toward each other from their free positions when they are mounted in the dogs 64, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8. The loop portion of each spring 66 is confined in the space between the shell 56 and the body 42 and when the dogs 64 are displaced inwardly the leg portions of each spring 66 are twisted in opposite directions. The torsional restoring forces of the spring 66 therefore urge the dogs to move outwardly relative to the body 42.

The probe member 40 is supported by the cable 34, as shown in FIG. 1, and chains 76 extend downwardly from the cross bar 36. The lower end of each chain 76 is secured by welding to a bar 78 extending outwardly from the probe member 40. The inner end of each bar 78 is rigidly secured in a cylindrical nut 80 and a tubular mandrel 82 extends through the nut 80. Screw threads 84 on the exterior of the mandrel 82 cooperate with corresponding threads on the nut 80 to fasten the mandrel 82 and the nut 80 together. The lower end of the mandrel is coupled to the end of the rotary hose 28 by conventional screw threads or other suitable means. A tube 86 is secured to the opposite end of the mandrel 82 and a sleeve 88 is mounted in sliding relation on the mandrel 82 and the tube 86. The sleeve 88 is yieldably urged toward the position shown in FIG. 3 by a coil spring 90 which is compressed between a shoulder 92 in the sleeve 88 and the end of the nut 80. Another shoulder 94 on the interior of the sleeve 88 engages the end of the tube 86 to limit the displacement of the sleeve relative to the tube 86. The lower end of the sleeve 88 has a peg 96 extending radially outward from the sleeve. A lock bar 98 having rings on opposite ends is mounted on the round bar 78 by having one of the rings slipped over the end of the bar. The ring on the opposite end of the bar 98 is in position for sliding over the end of the peg 96, as shown in FIG. 7 and when his in this position, the lock bar 98 prevents downward displacement of the sleeve 88 relative to the mandrel 82. A tapered plug 100 may be wedged in a hole in the bar 78 for preventing displacement of the lock bar 98 off the end of the peg 96.

Interior and exterior chamfers are provided on the upper end of the sleeve 88 and the-interior of the sleeve has progressively smaller internal bores forming a shoulder 102 therein. The exterior surface of the tube 86 has an integral band 103 spaced from the end of the sleeve 88 forming a shoulder 104, and a plurality of sealing rings 106 are mounted on the upper end of the tube 86.

Referring to FIG. 4, the connector is assembled by inserting the tube 86 through the guide 60 of the receiver 38 and the chamber 52 directs the tube 86 into the bore 46 of the body 42. As the tube 86 moves into the body .42, the sleeve 88 is guided between the body 42 and the shell 56 by the chamfer 54 on the body 42, and the chamfers on the end of the sleeve 88. As the sleeve 88 moves into the space between the body 42 and the shell 56, the end of the sleeve engages the end of each of the dogs 64, and the interior chamfer on the end of the sleeve 88 urges the dogs 64 inwardly, but the shoulder 104 is directly opposite the end of the sleeve and blocks the displacement of the dogs 64.

As increased axial force is applied to the mandrel 82, the tube 86 is displaced axially relative to the body 42,

while the sleeve 88 remains stationary. A large axial force must be applied, however, to compress the spring 90 and accomplish the relative movement of the tube 86 relative to the sleeve 88. At this time, of course, the lock bar 98 is in the position shown in FIG. 3 to allow axial movement of the sleeve relative to the nut 80. When the tube 86 has been displaced relative to the sleeve 88 sufficiently for the band 103 to engage the shoulder 48, the dogs 64 ride over the shoulder 104 and into the recessed portion of the exterior surface of the tube 86. The axial force imposed on the sleeve 88 by the spring 90 urges the dogs 64 into the recessed portion of the sleeve 86, shown in FIG. 4, and as soon as the dogs 64 have been displaced, the sleeve is propelled into the space between the dogs and the shell 56 by the axial force of the spring 90. The lock bar 98 is then moved into the position shown in FIG. 4 and the tapered plug 100 prevents the lock bar from being dislodged off the end of the peg 96. It is apparent that when the receiver 38 and the probe 40 are in the positions shown in FIG. 4, they cannot be pulled apart or separated. Therefore, there is no danger to the workman on the rig by the connection unexpectedly becoming separated once it is fastened together.

In order to disconnect the receiver 38 from the probe 40, it is necessary to remove the plug 108 and slide the lock bar 98 off the end of the peg 96. Conventional separable chain links 108 are provided in the chains 76 and when these links are removed, the bars 78 may be rotated relative to the mandrel 82, thereby unscrewing the nut 80. When the nut has been turned sufficiently for it to be out of engagement with the threads 8 on the mandrel 82, the nut 80 is free to slide downwardly on the mandrel, thereby releasing the spring 90 and allowing the sleeve 88 to be retracted by pulling on the peg 96. The spring 66 imposes an outward force on the dogs 64 and when the sleeve 88 is withdrawn from the space between the dogs and the shell 56, the dogs are displaced outwardly to the position shown in FIG. 2. When the dogs are retracted, the tube 86 may be withdrawn from the body 42 and the probe 40 is released from the receiver 38.

In operation, the casing string 16 is lowered in the bore hole 8 until it reaches the desired depth in the bore hole. The plug container 18 is made up with the inlet pipe 22, the valve 32 and the receiver 42 secured to the end of the inlet pipe 22. The cement inlet pipe 20 and valve 26 are mounted on the opposite side of the plug container 18. This plug container assembly can be made up while the casing 16 is being lowered in the well bore hole and when the casing is landed, the plug container 18 is raised to the top of the casing and coupled to the casing. The probe 40 is secured to the end of the rotary hose 28 and it is lifted by means of the cable 34, with the probe in an upright position. When it reaches the receiver 38, sufficient upward force is applied by the cable 34 to compress the spring 90 in the probe member 40 sufficiently for the dogs 64 to move into the space between the shell 88 and the tube 86, as shown in FIG. 4, and the probe and reoeiver are latched together. Drilling fluid can then be pumped from the rotary hose 28, through the plug container 18 and down the casing string 16. Circulation is thereby established upwardly through the annulus between the casing string 16 and out through the discharge pipe 14. While circulation is continuing, the cementing pipe 24 may be connected to the inlet pipe 28 in a conventional manner.

After cementing is complete, the probe member 40 may be disconnected from the receiver member 38 by removing the links 188 in the chains '76 and removing the lock bar 98 from the peg 96. The nut 80 .is then rotated by means of the bars 78 until it no longer engages the threads 84 of the mandrel 82, and the spring 90 is released. The peg 96 is then used to withdraw the sleeve 88 from between the dog 64 and the shell 56, and when the dogs 64 have moved out of the path of the shoulder 104, the probe 40 falls away from the receiver member 38. As a safety precaution, the probe member 40 may be temporarily suspended trom a separate line or cable while it is being disconnected from the receiver member 38.

The particular advantage of this invention is that circulation may be established almost immediately after the casing 16 has reached the desired depth in the bore hole. In atypical casing setting operation, the method and apparatus of this invention permitted circulation to be established through the casing string in less than 20% of the time required by the conventional method and apparatus using threaded pipe joints. This substantial saving in time during the critical interval after the casing is ready to receive circulation fluid reduces to a considerable extent the possibility that cave-ins and sloughi-ng 01f the formation will cause the annular space around the casing to be blocked.

The saving of time afforded by this invention in making the connection of the rotary hose with the plug container is important for establishing circulation as soon as possible, but there is an additional benefit obtained from the saving of time. Operating costs of the rig may be as high as $10,000 per day and a saving of several minutes or more reduces the total rig time and accordingly results in a reduction in the cost of operating the rig.

Another advantage of the method and apparatus of this invention is that the working conditions are rendered more safe, seince the workmen no longer are required to climb the heights of 30 feet above the floor of the drilling rig and work quickly to fasten the rotary hose to the plug container. Since the fastening of the rotary hose in accordance with this invention is carried out from the floor of the rig, there is less danger to the workmen. From the floor of the rig, the position of the sleeve 88 can be observed while the connection is being made. This provides a positive indication of when the receiver and the probes are locked together. Furthermore, since the dogs 64- form a semi-permanent lat-ch between the receiver 38 and the probe 40, there is no danger of the connection coming apart, although the pressures in the rotary hose may be extremely high. In separating the probe 40 from the receiver 38, it is necessary to remove the lock bar 98 and the links 108, so that the probe 40 cannot be accidentally disconnected from th receiver 38.

The method and apparatus of this invention have been of great value in offshore drilling operations. In some locations, the bore hole conditions often are difficult to deal with. It is not unusual to encounter unconsolidated formations, such as sand, which continually slough off while the casing string is being run in the bore hole. The time saved by the method and apparatus of this invention permits the casing to be connected securely, although sand bridging occurs rapidly.

While this invention has been illustrated and the described in one embodiment, it is recognized that variations and changes may be made therein without departing from the invention as set forth in the claims.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for quickly establishing circulation after a casing has reached its desired depth when the top of the casing is at a substantial height above the floor of the drilling rig comprising: first conduit means communicating with the interior of the casing, said first conduit means being disposed substantially at the top of casing, first coupling means on said conduit means, second conduit means for supplying circulation fluid, second coupling means on said second conduit means, means for lifting said second coupling means into engagement with said first coupling means, said lifting means being indepedent of said first coupling means, and means for securing said first and second coupling means together upon lifting said second coupling means into engagement with said first coupling means, whereby a fluid connection is effected rapidly.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said lifting means includes a lifting bar secured on said second coupling, and a latching member on said second coupling,

said latching member being movable relative to said lifting bar to allow said coupling means to be secured together thereby while said lifting bar supports said second coupling means.

3. Apparatus for quickly establishing circulation after a casing has reached its desired depth when the top of the casing is at'a substantial height above the floor of the drilling ring comprising; first conduit means communicating with the interior of the casing, said first conduit means being disposed substantially at the top of the casing, first coupling means on said conduit mean-s, second conduit means for supplying circulation fluid, second couplingmeans on said second conduit means, means for lifting said second coupling means, one of said first and second coupling means including dogs movable between first and'second positions and means biasing said dogs toward said first position, the other of said couplings including'a shoulder thereon in position to be engaged by said dogs in said second position and cam means on said other coupling for displacing said, dogs into said second position uponlifting said second coupling means into engagement with said first coupling means to form a fluid connection. a

4. Apparatus for quickly establishing circulation after a casing has reached its desired depth when the topof the'casing is at a substantial height above the floor of the drilling rig comprising: first conduit means communicating with the interior of the casing, said first conduit means being disposed substantially at the top of the casing, means on said drilling rig for supporting the top of said casing, a first coupling member secured on said conduit means, second conduit means for supplying circulation fluid, a second coupling member secured on said second conduit means, said first and second coupling members being substantially tubular and having their central axis extending substantially vertically, hoist means on the drilling rig and operable independently of said casing supporting means, means for lifting said second coupling member by said hoist means, and means on said coupling members for securing them together in telescoping relation upon lifting said second coupling means by said hoist means.

5. Apparatus for quickly establishing circulation after a casing has reached its desired depth when tthe top of the casing is at a substantial height above the floor of the drilling rig comprising: first conduit means communicating with the interior of the casing, said first conduit means being disposed substantially at the top of the casing, a first coupling member secured on said conduit means, second conduit means for supplying circulation fluid, a second coupling member secured-on said second conduit means, one of said first and second coupling members including a tube havingone end secured to said conduit means, said tube having a plurality of openings therea casing has reached its' desired depth when the top of the casing is at a substantial height above the fioor of the drilling rig comprising: first conduit means communicating with the interior of the casing, said first conduit means being disposed substantially at the top of the casing, a first coupling member secured on said conduit means, second conduit means for supplying circulation fluid, a second coupling member secured on said second conduit means, one of'said first and second coupling members including a tube having one end secured to said conduit means, said tube having a plurality of openings therein, a tubular shell secured in coaxial relation over said tube and extending over said openings, dogs in said openings andmovable radially relative to said tube, a plurality of springs between said tube and said shell, each spring being in the form of a loop and having its opposite ends extending outwardly in opposite directions, means for journalling said spring ends in said dogs, the other of said couplings having a shoulder thereon in position to be engaged by said dogs-and cam means for displacing said dogs against said shoulder upon lifting said second coupling member into engagement with said first coupling member.

7. Apparatus for quickly establishing circulation after a casing has reached its desired depth when the top of the casing is at a substantial height above the floor of the drilling rig comprising: first conduit means communicating with the interior of the casing, said first conduit means being disposed substantially at the top of the casing, first coupling means on said conduit means, second conduit means for supplying circulation fiuid, second coupling means on said second conduit means, means for lifting said second coupling means, one of said first and second coupling means including dogs movable between first and second positions and means biasing said dogs toward said first position, the other of said couplings including a shoulder thereon in position to be engaged by said dogs in said second position, means on said other coupling for displacing said dogs into said second position, and means on said other coupling for locking said dogs in said second position, whereby the dogs engage the shoulder and latch the couplings together.

8. Apparatus for quickly establishing circulation after a casing has reached its desired depth when the top of the casing is at a substantial height above the floor of the drilling rig comprising: first conduit means communicating with the interior of the casing, said first conduit means being disposedsubstantially at the top of the casing, a first coupling member secured on said conduit means, second conduit means for supplying circulation fluid, a second coupling member secured on said second conduit means, one of said first and second coupling members including a tube having one end secured to said conduit means, said tube having a plurality of openings therein, a tubular shell secured in coaxial relation over said tube and extending over said openings, dogs in said openings and movable radially relative to said tube, means biasing said dogs toward said shell, the other of said couplings having a shoulder thereon in position to be engaged by said dogs, a' sleeve mounted in telescoping relation on said other coupling, said sleeve movable between a first position overlapping said shoulder and a second position axially displaced from said shoulder, and spring means yieldably urging the sleeve toward said first position, whereby said sleeve is interposed between said dogs and said shell to lock the dogs against said shoulder.

9. Apparatus for quickly establishing circulation after a casing has reached its desired depth when the top of the casing is at a substantial height above the floor of the drilling rig comprising: first conduit means communicating with the interior of the casing, said first conduit means being disposed substantially at the top of the casing, a first coupling member secured on said conduit means, second conduit means for supplying circulation fiuid, a second coupling member secured on said second conduit means, one of said first and second coupling members including a tube having one end secured to said conduit means, said tube having a plurality of openings therein, a tubular shell secured in coaxial relation over said tube and extending over said openings, dogs in said openings and movable radially relative to said tube, means biasing said dogs toward said shell, the other of said couplings having a shoulder thereon in position to be engaged by said dogs, a sleeve mounted in telescoping relation on said other coupling, said sleeve movable between a first position overlapping said shoulder and a second position axially displaced from said shoulder, a collar releasably secured on said one coupling, a spring compressed between said sleeve and said collar, and means for releasing the collar, whereby the sleeve may be displaced by releasing the collar to disconnect the coupling.

10. Apparatus for quickly coupling a rotary hose with an inlet pipe to the casing for circulation of fluid when the top of the casing is at a substantial height above the floor of the drilling rig comprising: a first coupling member and a second coupling member, said first coupling member having a tubular body and a shell secured in overlapping relation on the body, a plurality of dogs, means for mounting said dogs in said tubular body for radial movement relative thereto, spring means urging said dogs outwardly toward the shell, said second coupling member having a tubular mandrel, said mandrel having aband spaced from one end thereof, a sleeve mounted on the mandrel for axial movement relative thereto, means for positioning one end of said mandrel adjacent said band, means for yieldably biasing said sleeve toward said band, said first coupling member being secured on one of said hose and inlet pipe and said second coupling member being secured to the other of said hose and inlet pipe, whereby upon insertion of the tubular mandrel in the tubular body, the sleeve is displaced and cams the dogs inwardly against the body and the sleeve moves between the body and the shell.

11. Apparatus for quickly coupling a rotary hose with an inlet pipe to the casing for circulation of fluid when the top of the casing is at a substantial height above the floor of the drilling rig comprising: a first coupling member and a second coupling member, said first coupling member having a tubular body and a shell secured in overlapping relation on the body, a plurality of dogs, means for mounting said dogs in said tubular body for radial movement relative thereto, spring means urging said dogs outwardly toward the shell, said second coupling member having a tubular mandrel, said mandrel having a band spaced from one end thereof, a sleeve mounted on the mandrel for axial movement relative thereto, means for positioning one end of said mandrel adjacent said band, means for yieldably biasing said sleeve toward said band, means for temporarily blocking axial displacement of the sleeve relative to the mandrel, and means for selectively releasing the biasing means, said first coupling member being secured on one of said hose and inlet pipe and said second coupling member being secured to the other of said hose and inlet pipe, whereby upon insertion of the tubular mandrel in the tubular body, the sleeve is displaced and earns the dogs inwardly against the body and the sleeve moves between the body and the shell.

12. Apparatus for quickly coupling a rotary hose with an inlet pipe to the casing for circulation of fluid when the top of the casing is at a substantial height above the floor of the drilling rig comprising: a first coupling member and a second coupling member, said first coupling member having a tubular body and a shell secured in overlapping relation on the body, a plurality of dogs, means for mounting said dogs in said tubular body for radial movement relative thereto, spring means urging said dogs outwardly toward the shell, said second coupling member having a tubular mandrel, said mandrel having a band spaced from one end thereof, a sleeve mounted on the mandrel for axial movement relative thereto, means for positioning one end of said mandrel adjacent said ban-d, means for yieldably biasing said sleeve toward said band, and a lifting bar secured to said second coupling member, said first coupling member being secured on said inlet pipe and said second coupling member being secured on said hose, whereby lifting the lifting bar facilitates connecting the members together.

13. Apparatus for quickly coupling a rotary hose with an inlet pipe to the casing for circulation of fluid when the top of the casing is at a substantial height above the floor of the drilling rig comprising: a first coupling member and a second coupling member, said first coupling it) member having a tubular body and a shell secured in overlapping relation on the body, a plurality of dogs, means for mounting said dogs in said tubular body for radial movement, relative thereto, spring means urging said dogs outwardly toward the shell, said second coupling member having a tubular mandrel, said mandrel having a band spaced from one end thereof, a sleeve mounted on the mandrel for axial movement relative thereto, means for positioning one end of said mandrel adjacent said band, said sleeve having a shoulder thereon,

a nut threaded on the tubular mandrel, a spring com.

pressed between the sleeve shoulder and the nut, a bar secured to the nut and extending outwardly therefrom, a crossbar, chains extending between the crossbar and the bar, said chains each having a separable link, said first coupling member being secured on said inlet pipe and said second coupling member being secured on said hose, whereby the crossbar may be lifted for coupling the members and the links may be separated for unscrewing the nut and releasing the spring.

14. A method of assembling a coupling between a rotary hose and an inlet pipe to the casing when the top of the casing is at a substantial height above the floor of the drilling rig comprising: securing a first coupling member on the inlet pipe with the central axis of said member being substantially upright, securing a second coupling member on the rotary hose, fastening the second coupling member to a hoist line with the central axis of the second coupling member substantially upright, one of said couplings including a plurality of latch dogs biased toward an unlatched position, the other of said couplings including a shoulder in position to be engaged by said dogs to prevent separation of said couplings and a latch member for camming said dogs into engagement with said shoulder, and raising the second coupling member until said other coupling shoulder is positioned adjacent said dogs with said latch member maintaining said dogs in engagement with said shoulder, whereby said second coupling member is securely connected with the first coupling member.

15. A method of assembling a coupling between a rotary hose and an inlet pipe to the casing when the top of the casing is at a substantial height above the floor of the drilling rig comprising. assembling a plug container on the casing, said plug container having an inlet pipe securing a first coupling member on the inlet pipe with the central axis of said member being substantially upright, securing a second coupling member on the rotary hose, fastening the second coupling member to a hoist line with the central axis of the second coupling member substantially upright, one of said couplings including a plurality of latch dogs biased toward an unlatched position, the other of said couplings including a shoulder in position to be engaged by said dogs to prevent separation of said couplings and a latch member for camming said dogs into engagement with said shoulder, and raising the second coupling member until said other coupling shoulder is positioned adjacent said dogs with said latch member maintaining said dogs in engagement with said shoulder, whereby said second coupling member is securely connected with the first coupling member.

16. A method of assembling a coupling between a rotary hose and an inlet pipe to the casing when the top of the casing is at a substantial height above the floor of the drilling rig comprising: assembling a plug container on the casing, said plug container having an inlet pipe, securing a first coupling member on the inlet pipe with the central axis of said member being substantially upright, securing a second coupling member on the rotary hose, fastening the second coupling member to a hoist line with the central axis of the second coupling member substantially upright, one of said couplings including a plurality of latch dogs biased toward an unlatched position, the other of said couplings including a shoulder in position to be engaged by said dogs to prevent separation of said couplings and a latch member for camming said dogs into engagement with said shoulder, raising the second coupling member until said other coupling shoulder is posit-ioned adjacent said dogs with said latch member maintaining said dogs in engagement with said shoulder, whereby said second coupling member is securely connected with the first coupling member, circulating fluid from the rotary hose through the casing, and fastening a cement slurry pipe to the second inlet of the plug container while fluid is being circulated.

17. In well drilling apparatus, a coupling for quickly establishing circulation between first and second conduit means comprising: a first coupling member on said first conduit means, said first coupling member including a tubular portion, said tubular portion having a radial opening therethrough, ad-og in said opening and being movable between a first position projecting interiorly of the inner wall of said tubular portion and a second position exteriorly of said inner wall, said dog projecting exteriorly of said tubular portion while in said second position, a second coupling member on said second conduit means, said second coupling member including a tube, said tube being received in telescoping relation in said first member tubular portion, and a latch member on saidtube, said latch member being movable longitudinally relative to said tube, said latch member including an abutment in position for engaging said dog when said dog is in said second position and overlapping said dog when said dog is in said first position, said tube having a shoulder thereon, said tubular portion being received between said latch member and said tube, and said dog being in said first position when in engagement with said tube shoulder and overlapped by said latch member, whereby said tube and said tubular portion are temporarily secured together.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said latch member is in the form of a sleeve, said sleeve being mounted coaxially on said tube, and spring means biasing said sleeve toward a latched position.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said first coupling member includes a cylindrical shell extending coaxially over said tubular portion, said tubular portion terminating within said shell, said dog second position being in engagement with said shell, said sleeve being received between said tubular member and said shell.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,882,099 10/1932 Trouth 1667O 2,240,738 5/1941 Dunn 175207 X 3,052,299 9/1962 Geer et al. 166237 X ERNEST R. PURSER, Primary Examiner. 

14. A METHOD OF ASSEMBLING A COUPLING BETWEEN A ROTARY HOSE AND AN INLET PIPE TO THE CASING WHEN THE TOP OF THE CASING IS AT A SUBSTANTIAL HEIGHT ABOVE THE FLOOR OF THE DRILLING RIG COMPRISING: SECURING A FIRST COUPLING MEMBER ON THE INLET PIPE WITH THE CENTRAL AXIS OF SAID MEMBER BEING SUBSTANTIALLY UPRIGHT, SECURING A SECOND COUPLING MEMBER ON THE ROTARY HOSE, FASTENING THE SECOND COUPLING MEMBER TO A HOIST LINE WITH THE CENTRAL AXIS OF THE SECOND COUPLING MEMBER SUBSTANTIALLY UPRIGHT, ONE OF SAID COUPLINGS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF LATCH DOGS BIASED TOWARD AN UNLATCHED POSITIOKN, THE OTHER OF SAID COUPLINGS INCLUDING A SHOULDER IN POSITION TO BE ENGAGED BY SAID DOGS TO PREVENT SEPARATION OF SAID COUPLINGS AND A LATCH MEMBER FOR CAMMING SAID DOGS INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SHOULDER, AND RAISING THE SECOND COUPLING MEMBER UNTIL SAID OTHER COUPLING SHOULDER IS POSITIONED ADJACENT SAID DOGS WITH SAID LATCH MEMBER MAINTAINING SAID DOGS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SHOULDER, WHEREBY SAID SECOND COUPLING MEMBER IS SECURELY CONNECTED WITH THE FIRST COUPLING MEMBER. 